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The Role of Posttraumatic Growth in the Relationship of Cognitive Flexibility and Basic Psychological Needs with Mental Health: 6 February 2023 Earthquake

Bilişsel Esneklik ve Temel Psikolojik İhtiyaçların Ruh Sağlığı ile İlişkisinde Travma Sonrası Büyümenin Rolü: 6 Şubat 2023 Depremi

Ayşe Hazal Dündar(USAK UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-8974-9680
Aslı Kürdo0009-0004-2290-7938
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-10-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The study findings indicate that increased cognitive flexibility and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs are significantly associated with lower psychological symptoms, and that post-traumatic growth mediated this relationship.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This research investigates the mental health and mental health-related psychological factors of individuals who directly experienced the February 6, 2023, earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş.
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Key Findings & Data:The study sample consists of a total of 356 volunteer participants, including 230 women and 126 men.
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Conclusion & Impact:The study findings indicate that increased cognitive flexibility and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs are significantly associated with lower psychological symptoms, and that post-traumatic growth mediated this relationship.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2023 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Bilişsel Esneklik · Deprem · Psikolojik İhtiyaçlar

Abstract

This research investigates the mental health and mental health-related psychological factors of individuals who directly experienced the February 6, 2023, earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş. The main purpose of the study is to assess the relationship between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and cognitive flexibility with mental health, as well as the mediating role of post-traumatic growth in this relationship. The study sample consists of a total of 356 volunteer participants, including 230 women and 126 men. Data were collected using face-to-face survey methods, with the following instruments used: Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-28, the Cognitive Control and Flexibility Scale, the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, and a sociodemographic information form. The study findings indicate that increased cognitive flexibility and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs are significantly associated with lower psychological symptoms, and that post-traumatic growth mediated this relationship. These results highlight the heterogeneous nature of the impact of mass traumatic events on individuals. The findings suggest that, in the post-disaster period, individuals’ psychological need satisfaction and levels of cognitive flexibility may be associated with post-traumatic growth and more favorable mental health indicators. The study’s findings have been discussed in light of relevant literature to provide insights for future research.

Özet

Araştırma, 6 Şubat 2023 Kahramanmaraş merkezli depremleri afet bölgesinde doğrudan deneyimleyen bireylerin ruh sağlığını ve ruh sağlığı ile ilişkili psikolojik faktörleri incelemektedir. Çalışmanın temel amacı, temel psikolojik ihtiyaç doyumu ve bilişsel esnekliğin, ruh sağlığı ile ilişkisini ve söz konusu ilişkide travma sonrası büyümenin aracılık rolünü değerlendirmektir. Araştırmanın örneklemi, 230 kadın ve 126 erkek olmak üzere toplam 356 gönüllü katılımcıdan oluşmaktadır. Veriler yüz yüze anket yöntemleriyle toplanmış olup veri toplama aracı olarak Temel Psikolojik İhtiyaçların Tatmini ve Engellenmesi Ölçeği, Genel Sağlık Anketi-28, Bilişsel Kontrol ve Esneklik Ölçeği, Travma Sonrası Büyüme Envanteri ile sosyodemografik bilgi formu kullanılmıştır. Çalışma bulguları, artan bilişsel esneklik ve temel psikolojik ihtiyaç doyumunun, düşük ruhsal bozukluk belirti düzeyleri ile anlamlı ilişki gösterdiğini ve travma sonrası büyümenin bu ilişkide aracı bir rol üstlendiğini göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, kitlesel travmatik olayların bireyler üzerindeki etkisinin heterojen yapısını ortaya koymaktadır. Bulgular, afet sonrası dönemde bireylerin psikolojik ihtiyaç doyumu ile bilişsel esneklik düzeylerinin, travma sonrası büyüme ve daha olumlu ruh sağlığı göstergeleriyle ilişkili olabileceğine işaret etmektedir. Çalışmanın bulguları gelecek çalışmalara ışık tutması açısından ilgili literatür bulgularıyla tartışılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Dündar, A. H., Kürdo, A. (2026). The Role of Posttraumatic Growth in the Relationship of Cognitive Flexibility and Basic Psychological Needs with Mental Health: 6 February 2023 Earthquake. Afet ve Risk Dergisi, Sayı: 23. https://doi.org/10.35341/afet.1759168

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